{"title":"Mark Renner","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"rervng11","title":"Mark Renner - Few Traces","description":"\u003ch3\u003eCAT: ReRVNG11\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelease Date:\u003cbr\u003e February 16, 2018 (digital)\u003cbr\u003e February 23, 2018 (physical)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e surveys a near decade of \u003cstrong\u003eMark Renner’s\u003c\/strong\u003e scarcely released and unreleased material from 1982 to 1990, embracing and evoking the timelessness of his artistic statement: a wordless translation of the individual’s musical experience, met with the poetic expression of being here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMark Renner first encountered punk while a teenager in Upperco, a country town in rural Maryland. Growing up on his family farm, he became a young acolyte of the British exports hitting not-so-distant Baltimore record store shelves in 1979 \/ 1980 and was baited by an area musician-wanted ad declaring \u003cstrong\u003eUltravox\u003c\/strong\u003e a primary touchstone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis nascent band and a pair of other group experiments flamed out under the typical totem of despotism. In their ashes Renner began recording independently around 1983 with a portable four-track, electric guitar, and classic Casio CZ101 synthesizer. Aside from \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Foxx\u003c\/strong\u003e-era Ultravox, Renner’s process was inspired by the period’s electronic pioneers venturing into deeper, romantic pop pastures: \u003cstrong\u003eYellow Magic Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eBill Nelson\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Associates\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith his tools and teachers in place, the blueprints for Renner’s sound were laid out – metronomic, skeletal rhythms built on sturdy yet singular drum machines supporting luminescent guitar and synth lines, Renner’s reverent voice guiding the fables and construction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost directly influential, Renner’s enthusiasm for \u003cem\u003eDays in Europa\u003c\/em\u003e, the third album by Scottish new wave band \u003cstrong\u003eSkids\u003c\/strong\u003e, would lead to a correspondence and long-distance tutorship with \u003cstrong\u003eStuart Adamson\u003c\/strong\u003e. Before Adamson would achieve worldwide success co-founding the group \u003cstrong\u003eBig Country\u003c\/strong\u003e, a chance friendship with Renner would impart great confidence in the young musician from Maryland, who, after a visit in Edinburgh, would then travel to London to demo an early version of “Half A Heart” featured in its final form on \u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sum of Renner’s music is one-part literary, one-part painterly. The artist cites the individualism of \u003cstrong\u003eHerman Hesse\u003c\/strong\u003e as a guiding force, and there are overt references to \u003cstrong\u003eW. B. Yeats\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Greanleaf Whittier\u003c\/strong\u003e among other authors. Lyrical themes evoke the presence of the ancient past, much like early \u003cstrong\u003eFelt\u003c\/strong\u003e songs or the spiritual visions of \u003cstrong\u003eVan Morrison\u003c\/strong\u003e. (Tellingly, Renner cites Morrison’s 1980s albums made between \u003cem\u003eInarticulate Speech of the Heart\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eNo Guru, No Method, No Teacher\u003c\/em\u003e as musical influences.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApart from his writing, Renner explored music as a complement to visual language: many of the dream-like instrumental passages presented across \u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e were originally implemented as sound elements for exhibitions of his paintings. Renner pursued wordless music as a pure aesthetic in its own right, pristinely balanced segues and open-ended compositions that lead to pasture but not without shepherd.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompiled three decades after the music was originally put to tape, \u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e collects Mark Renner’s early music but strives not to simplify or reframe it. (Mark is \u003cem\u003estill\u003c\/em\u003e active making music and painting) The instrumental explorations remain on par with the great ambient adventurers of the period (\u003cstrong\u003eBrian Eno\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHarold Budd\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eRoedelius\u003c\/strong\u003e), while the vocal and guitar-centric songs crystalize across similar terrains being transversed by \u003cstrong\u003eCocteau Twins\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eThe Chills\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e highlights in intuitive sequence gems from Renner’s scarce discography and archive: the self-released debut \u003cem\u003eAll Walks of This Life\u003c\/em\u003e (1986), the aptly titled follow-up \u003cem\u003ePainter’s Joy\u003c\/em\u003e (1988), plus early singles, compilation tracks, and exemplary songs that saw no original release. The collection allows an intimate look at an artist growing into their sound and surroundings, finding the in between echoes and spirituality of the individual.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMark Renner’s \u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e will be released February 16, 2018 on CD and digital formats, and February 23, 2018 on double LP. The collection includes extensive liner notes from \u003cstrong\u003eBrandon Soderberg\u003c\/strong\u003e and unseen ephemera. A short documentary on Mark Renner by Maia Stern will be shared around \u003cem\u003eFew Traces\u003c\/em\u003e’ release date.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gIywyRq0WIo\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0P1KmHGfus0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ReRVNG11","offers":[{"title":"DIGITAL - $11","offer_id":13131107893317,"sku":"ReRVNG11DIGI","price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"DBL LP White Vinyl - $30","offer_id":13131108024389,"sku":"ReRVNG11LTD","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"DBL LP - $25","offer_id":13131107958853,"sku":"ReRVNG11LP","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD - $12","offer_id":13131108057157,"sku":"ReRVNG11CD","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0026\/6993\/6709\/products\/RERVNG11_DIGITAL_COVER_500px.jpg?v=1599778250"}],"url":"https:\/\/igetrvng.com\/collections\/mark-renner.oembed","provider":"RVNG Intl.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}